Stamp or ticket vending machine.



No. 884,802. PATBNTED APR. 14, 1908. R. J. DICKIB & J. H. BROWN.

STAMP 0R TICKET VENDING MACHINE.

TAPPLICATIDN rum ran. a, 1907.

V 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. R. J. DICKIE & J. H. BROWN.

STAMP OR TICKET VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) mm. a. 19m,

5 SHEETS-SHIRT 2.

\ I 55x &

' PATENTED APR 14 1908.

R. J. mom: a: J. H. BROWN.

STAMP 0R TICKET VENDING MACHINE.

Wa s

APYLIUATIOH FILED YER. 6, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SEES! 3.

m m s v 1 i I I i r e T i if I J i F 5 T i 1 PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. R. J. DICKIE 68 J. H. BROWN. j STAMP DR TICKET VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P1181, 1907.

5 SKEETS-SKEET 4.

ma ,/i. 77am R0. 884,802. I PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. R. J. DICKIB & J. H. BROWN.

STAMP 0H TICKET VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 11.11!) FEB. a, 1901. J

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I u A u- MMWMM i Tr, 17313 .1 'T\ x y i DruIF-RD bii 'llLS PATEB'I ()FF 1, E. RoBER'rr-nms DIFKlE ANDJOii i 011s. m MEbNl-I .issrmwntr s, To UNITED s'rmi-zs .XU'TQMA r: if; m 2 NEW runs, Y., A conroniiriox or FLUKE. j

: STAMP OR TICKET VENDING mscnms.

I No. 884,802. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed February 6, 1907. Serial No. 355,113.

To all whom it may wmern: '1). Weight 15. The rocker 12 is recteach 55 l 1 Be it known that we, ROBERT JAMES time the. machine operates by the downward DICKIE and Join; HENRY Bnowx, suhjects movement of the lmr 6 causing the. arm 8 to of the King of England, residing at VVellingact on a pin Pi 2 projecting laterally ton, in the Colony of New Zenland, have infrom the rocker. the said .iziccl i2 is vented n Stamp or icket Vending Machine, adapted at each operation of the mac-hintto 6G Of'Wllllll the folli'iwing is a specification. rotnfo for a certain distance towards the This invention relates to improvements front of lhegnsi'i" m a manner to he hereinin coin-freed machines for vending postage alterdescrihcdnw 'ng \rithit the sprockct- 10 stamps, tickets and the like, having -m interwheel l6 rigidly mounted on the shaft 9.

niittently rotated sprocket or p... wheel The connection hciwcen the rocker and which feeds n. perforated strip of stamps or sprockci-wliccl is effected by niensof a hook tickets to an aperture in the inclosing casing I or catch 17 rumpled to engage a series of his 1 Where they are delivered to the purchaser. 5 1S projecting nternlly from SPI'UCKB-b- 15 glhe improved machine is represented in {,whc-el (see more particularly Fig. 9 The S g the accompanying drawings-in which rocker 12 returns to its original position 79 g Figurel is a side elevation with parts in when the machine is re-set. whereas the section. Fig. 2 is also a side elevation from sprocket heel is prevented from backward the reverse side to Fig. 1 and with the n'iechmovement by a pawl or catch 1!) also engag- 29, anisni in a diiierent position. Fig. 3 is a secing one of said series of pins 15. tion on the. line 33 of Fig.1 looking in the (onnected to the. rocket l2 an arm or direction of the. arrows. Fig. 4 is an elevnhammer 2 .3. to which the :iforcsnid hook 1? 7 tion of the ops-rating slide andinclosing plate is pivot rlly attached adopted at each for-' with the front of the casing removed. Fig. ward movement said rocker to abuti 25 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 with the slide in against and rclczisci catch 21 carrying ii elevated position. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation weight 22 and pivoted in liracii'rts This catch normally sup iorts u knife bar 24 (see of the slide shoyving certain locking' and remore particularly r g. 3, pivoted at 25 and leasing mechanism: Fig. 7 is a detail View l l of Fig. 6 showin said locking and releasing carrying at its opposite en iu'cight, 26. 'lo i{ 30 mechanism in a fiifi'erent position. Fig. 8 is l the rocker is also connected a rod or lever 37 ii a section on the. line 8-8 of Fig. 6 looking in contacting with the lever surface of the knife the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a detail bar 24 and adapted to raise or ro-set said bar 7 view of part of the gravity operated rocker when thero'cker r turns to its original posimechanism hereinafter referred to and Fig. tion; In order to hold tho knife in contactl 35 10 is a detail Yiow oi the escapeinent or coin with the catch 21 a light spring 24 may he release mechanism. provided and :1 stop 21 may also he inr- A i 1 indicates the casing '05 the machine nished againstwhich abuts the upper end of which may he provided with suitably disthe catch L'l why-u the hitlcr is shifted. 2H i ll posed doors for permittinga cess to the inshown in Fig. 'llic rockr-r also cnrrics n f 40 terior mechanism. guide or lHHlU'J'IiIl 2.; which cl'iitlgis the 2 rcprcsents a slide. provided with n knol) weight 15 wile-i: th iziccliiinisin is ill its n ior handle l )rojecling through the front 4 of mill position but 'rcinm'wl ih rcl'rom on the casing for actuation by the purchnscr. i I'VililKllllfiYtlHOlli l llltl'nfl fl'l'tifhlHPZA 'i\(i,- The slideLZ is pivotnllyconnected at its upper wheel as shown in Figs. 1 and '2 rcspcc- 45 end as at to 9. setting bar 6 carrying a tiVclY. Incas-cs where it isprcfcrrcd that the weight 7, said setting liar being pivotally purchaser shall himself detach the stamp or connected at its opposite end with an arm 8 ticket, the. knife may he dispensed with and loosely mounted on-n' transverse shaft- 9 carthe stamp torn off from the. strip at tho deried in hearing plates or brackets 10 secured li"ery chute this operation being assisted liy 50 to the nnichine casing or to the slide inclosprrwiding n ionihmlcr like. jun" or jaws post ing: ens-in or plate ll. A wheel 12 lu-rcinwhich the str p is led.

'lhe uloresuid opcruting slide 2 is prm iiled with an a )crtnrc 39 for nissnm: of the coin to i s the. chute. or space 30 between said slide and aftcr referred to as a rocker is also loosely inonntod on the shaft 9 and to said \rhecl is pivotally connected at 13 a bar 14 carrying the interior wall ofthe snde inclosing casing 11. This aperture normally coincides with a similar aperture 31 in the front wall of the casing] and for the purpose o'f'indiceting to 5 the purchaser when the supply of stamps has become exhausted the exterior surface of the slide is inscribed with the word "Em )ty or similar indication, the latter being adapted to arrive opposite said aperture 31 when the slide is raised and to remain in such position should the su )ply of stamps in the machine be exhauste in which case the slide is prevented from falling for which purpose a rod or plunger 32 is provided haizingan enlarged end 33 for instance of vulcanite or like inat-erial adapted to have sliding movement in a bracket or how 3'4 and to normally bee.

- l'by means of a weight 37 thereon with its outer end 35 against the strip of stamps 36. go The-other end of the rod is attached to a or dog 38 pivoted at 39 and passing at its upper end through the casing 11 to en- 'ga ge a notch or recess in the slide 2 should the end 33 lose its support owing to the ab- 25 sence of the strip of stamps 36 but otherwise that is to sa so long as a stamp is present against whic i said end 33"ma v bear, the dog 38 is held out of engagement with the slide and allows same to descend.

80 If desired the plunger may be in electrical connection with a post cities or headquarters so that upon the stamps giving out, a circuit is closed or opened and an alarm or indication given at suchotlice. This may be ef- 85 feeted in any manner well known in the art and is considered to need no further descrFiption. or the purpose of keeping the strip of stamps in place on the sprocket-wheel 16 a 40 movable or loose cover or weight 41 is provided. In the form illustrated this cover has a de ending arm 42 pivoted at 43 to one of the caring plates 10 (see Fig. 1) and is provided with ooves 43 engaging the pins 44 45 of said whee to permit easy movement of the wheel and passage of the stamps therewith while itself remaining stationary. The cover also tends to facilitate the passage of the stamps to the inclined delivery chute 45 and in cases where a knife is used after the; stamp has been cut from the stri it passes down .Ilid chute to a cup or how 46 on the front wall of the casing. To further assist the pump into. the chute and prevent same lid- 5 ingup the rear face of the slide casing 11 a bent s ring plate 47 secured to said casing mag? so be provided as shown in Fig. 1. l on desired for example where a delivmy cup is not used the -detached stamp may l0 be prevented from falling from the chute 45 by means of a light pivoted flap 48 having fingers which hear u on said stamp with suffi cient weight to ligiitly hold same until removed by the purchaser. Qt The preferred form of coin-freed mechanpoint 5.) opposite same (see Fig. 4) and at such a distance as to just su iport a coin of the correct denomination. n the slide being raised (Fig. 5) to approximately its full height a projection 51 t iereon engages the coin, removes it from the position described and causes it to fall down a continuation 48" of the coin passage (as indicated by the arrow a. F ig. 5) on to the end 52 ot' a balance or lever 53 which releases the escapement as hereinafter described. Should however an attempt be made to operate the machine by means of a false coin or disk, or one having a diameter a fraction smaller than that for which the machine is intended, said false coin will not be held between the catch 49 and point 50 but will continue to fall straight down the channel 48 (as indicated by arrow b'Fig. 4) and be returned to the would be purchaser through the stamp deliver chute 45.

Then the slide 2 has been re eased by a correct coin as describedabove and lifted for a certain dist auce a pivoted catch 54 may be caused to engage a notch in the slide and prevent the latter from returning until the knife has "operated, the weight 26 at the end of the knife bar 24 having a laterally roj ecting in 56 which forces back said (ate 1 as the kni e is descending.

Figs. (3 and 7 show means for hit-hing the slide against backward movement should the purchaser not raise same to the full distance rer lured. For. this purpose a rack 57 is pro- -vir ed on a bar 57 at the side of the slide and pivoted to :1 lug on the slide is a weighted pawl or catch 58. Two notches 59 and 60 are also formed in bar 57 into the lower one 60 of which the catch 58 normally engages. raising the slide the catch t-ri s over the teeth of the rack 57 and on the Sill e being raised to its full extent it enters the upper notch 59', whereupon its weighted end 5S assumes a vertical )osition and allows theslido to fall again. bhould however the urchaser not raise the slide sutlicicntly for t iecatch 58 to enter the notch 59 the slide tends to drop by gravity but is prevented from doing so by the catch. engaging any one of the teeth of the rack. 57 thus holding the slide locked against return movement as shown in Fig. 7

For the purpose of allowing the operatinghandle to be automatically released from the slide as soon as the complete movement of the latter has taken p ace the-following means may be used. A s19;- fitlsis cut in the front. 4 of the ending in which the operating handle; is :toap ui to slide. Th said handle is provided uiili a pivoted do; til having two now-s ti. and ti l will of whit-h Hi1: aigage-s an ap rt-me or lf'tti :54 in the .wlillF 1. 65 implicates a in aplate .-cr*ured to ll!" haw die for covering the slot UH. (3n the lion-lie be raised the do; til \rrll carry the slide 2 with ituntil the nose (5.3 strikes the end 5tol the slot on whereupon liii! nose (T3 will be remzived from the aperture 64 and the handle released.

For conveniently and evenly leading the strip of stamps 38 to'the sprocket-wheel 16 a guide box or the like 67 may be provided within which is mounted ajpivoted plate 6% adapted to be pressed ligh ly against the strip of 5mm? by means of a wire or other spr ng (39. no front wall of the box 67 is perforated for passage of the incmber 323 as shown in Fig. l that said member may shut agaim he stamps.

indicate; a hot( or framc in which is mounted a roller 71 carrying the strip of stamps 36.

Of the setting bar 6, knife bar 24 and freewheel 12, some or all may be operated by means of s rings or other equivalents instead of by v eigiits if desired.

Any con enient form of e capement mechanism may be used, but that represented in the drawings comprises the balance or lever 52% before referred to pivoted at 33 and carrying: an adjustable weight 72 and a stop piw 72; having :1 vol awn portion 74 air i which engages the hooked end w a rotatabl arni -s engaging a pm 8 on the free-\vl'ieel mounted on the shill the arr-1 mem. he 5 ing such that, on lllpl't';- ll))1 ol' h end 52 oi the lever the lHU' T5 is released from the stop lore and through gearing 7T andflh thus reeuses the free-wlieel 12 for operation by the weight 15, the said gearing also giving the bar 5 a complete rotation and bringing its hooked end again in contact with the stop piece 73.

A cash drawer (not shown) may he provided uilhin the casing in a suitable position to collect the coins after they have acted on the balance rod 53.

The general operation of the machine is as l'ollo\\f 'l'lw st rip of Mumps wound on the spool Tl or ntwy even rest lmhtl in i he l;o.\ 70 or on the hose the ('ihlllg and is passed up betw en the front wall of the box of and the plate on around the upperpart of the circumerenceol the sprocket-wheel ltland underthc cover or weight 41, until the forward edge is about in the plane of the knife. The stamps are perfornted in such a manner that they 'are engied by the Ivillh ll of vsaid sprocketwheel. With the ports in the position shown in Fig. l und the stamps arranged as dehook connection.

(in insertion of coin into the aperture 31 in the. ma -him easing and also through that in hc slide 3 th mlrh l) i act d u on hi illtcoin and the di l: r leased 'lli 5 id!) is non raised hy m ans of the handle .3 and lu-hl in sun l1 rill-"ed. D'J-lll"ll h tho itatih 54. This movement also lilts the set lin', lrarfi carrying with it the arm 1*: in the coin releasin: th 's'cap fln-"nl in he manner bcl'ore decribed the pinion 77 wheel TH and sprocket wheel 16 allmigidly mounted on the shaft 9 are released thus iermitting same to he rolnted by the weight I?) acting on the rocker through the hook 17 :md a pin in the rocker having been until now held by said pin and Said rocker thus carries with it in its forward movement the sprocketwheel 16 by means of the (o-acting hook l7 and pins i thus feeding one stamps length forward into the "butt: 45 and bringing the rcar end of said slump inunedialely below he knife. Th ohmaid f rward movem nt ol the spro ket-wheel has also caused the arm or hammer 21) to shift the eatch 21, (the rod 27 having m anwhile been also withdrawn) so that the knife bar 24 is released and under the action of the weight 26 falls and cuts oil the stamp which thereupon drops down the chute 45 by "ravity into the delivery cup 46 or is held by the flap 48 as the case may he.

The knife bar during its descent has acted on the catch 54 to release the slide, the latter now falling; and with it the weighted setting lmr (3 and arm 8 which movement returns the lrecheel o its original position by the and a. the Panic time raises the weight if) and l-irsil'e lilting: rod 27 so that all the parts are returned to their original positions, with the exception of the sprocket-wlmel which is prevented from rearward movement by the dog If) as.al'oresaid and consequently also the wheel 78 and pinion 77 which are in rigid connection with said rocker through the shaft 6. .'lhe catch .21 has also been caused to again engage the knife bar 24 by means of its weight .22.

It will he observed since the coin frees the machine for operation when falling on -the balance or escapement lever, and thus permits the sprocket-wheel to revolve and also the rocker carrying the hammer which releases the knife, the operation of the -slide releasing cutvh 4!) by any means withoutinsertion of a coin will have. no cheer on the machine and the some will remain locked.

The machine may be adjusted to deliver I scribed the. nachine'is ready to be operated. amount of cash deposited in the machine so 35 mechanisms interposed between said &

that iliering by ofiicials or other persons may re detected or prevented and this ar rangement may be effected in any convenient or expedient manner.

We do not limit ourselves to the particular construction or arrangement of the parts described since the same may be suitably varied and some in the devices omitted without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion.

W'hat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

1. In a vending machine the combination of an intermittinglv rotatable i'ecd wheel adapted-to support a strip of vendihle art icles a hand operatedliftmg s ide coin-controlled means for releasing said slide two iloaded driving mechanisms interiosed .be-

tween said slide and feed wheel, the tirst of said mechanisms being adapted to energize the second and the second being adapted to actuate the feed wheel, and coin-actuated means for releasing said loaded driving mechanism.

2. In a vending machine the combination of an intermittingly rotatable feed wheel adapted to support a strip of vendible articles, a hand operated vertically movable slide, coin-controlled means for releasing said slide a leaded rocker, a releasable connection between said t'ced wheel and rocker. and coin-operated means for controlling the operation of the rocker, two loaded drivi' and feed wheel the first of said me 'lltl llbnlS being adapted on downward movement of [the slide to energize the rocker, and the second being adapted to actuate the feed 40 wheel through the rocker and aforesaid releasable connection.

3. In a vending machine the combination of an intermittingly rotatable feed wheel adapted to support a strip of vendible articles a loaded rocker, a releasable connection a between said rocker and feed wheel, a vertically movable hand operated slide, normally locked coin-controlled ,means for releasing said slide when it is desired to operate the. machine, means co-acting with said slide for setting the rocker against the action of its load, min-controlled means for releasing the rocker and ermitting the same to impart motion to t 1e feed wheel and additional means for lot-him said slide when the supply of vendiblc artic es is practically exhausted.

4.. In a vending machine the combination of a casing having an aperture therein, an initermittingly rotatable feed wheel adapted to support a strip of articles to be ve'nded, a loan ed roclzen-a releasable connection l etween said rocker and feed wheel a vertically movable hand operated slide connected with the loaded rocker to set the rocker against the action of its load normally locked, oincontrolled means for releasing said slide, when it is. desired to operate the machin a coin controlled escapeinent mechanism for releasing said rocker and permitting the same to iiiipartniotion to the feed wheel to pro ,tect a portion of the aforesaid strip through the aperture in the casing, and means for pre venting retrograde movement of the feed wheel.

5. In a vending-machine the combination of a device for interinittingly feeding the articles to he vended in a strip, a vertically movable hand operated actuating slide c0in controlled means for releasing saidslide releasable means set by said slide for operating the feed device, coin-actuated means for releasing said releasable means, a handle for said slide and means for releasing said handle from the slide when the latter has reached a 'IPItaifi position..- i

6. ln-a vending machine the combination of a device for intermittingly feeding the articles to be vended in strip, a normally locked haunt-operated actuating slide having an aperture therein. coin-controlled means for releasing said slide when it is desired to operate the machine, releasable m ans set by said slide for operating the feed device, coinr'ontrolled means for releasing said releasable means a handle for said slide, a trip-dog pivoted to sad handle and adapted to engage the aperture in the slide, and a stationar abutment adapted'to trip said dog and re move same from the slide aperture for the purpose set forth.

7. In a vending machine the combination of an int-crmittingly rotatable feed wheel and means for su )port-ing a perforated strip of vendible art-ic. es on said wheel, a hand ope!- ated actuating slide, coin-controlled means for releasing the slide, propelling means adapted to be set by said slide for operating said feed wheel, a loaded member normally engaging said stri a locking dog actuated by said member and adapted to lock the slide when said member ceases to engage the strip and coin-actuated means for releasing said propelling means, substantially as described.

8. In a vending machine the combination with a casing having an aperture, an intermit tingly rotatable feed wheel adapted to support a strip of vondiblc articles, a hand operated actuating slide movable behind the aperture in the casin coin-operated means for releasing said slide, actuating means adapted to be set by said slide for operatingthe feed wheel, coin-controlled means for releasing said actuating means a loaded member normally engaging said strip, a lockint: actuated by said member and adapted ock the slide when said member ceases to age the strip, and means'on said slide for indmatiug when the machine is exhausted of articles to be vended, said; means remaining i mechanism, means releasable by said rocker visible through the oasinggtperture when the slide is looked as aforesaid. 9. In a machine for vending postage stamps, tickets or the like the combination of a casing hav a coin aperture and a stamp or ticket dlSC large aperture, a-sprocket feed wheel rotatable intermittingly towards said discharge aperture and adapted to support a perforated stri of stamps or tickets, a normally locke hand operated slide coin-controlled means for releasing said slide when it is desired to operate the machine, a loaded rocker adapted to impart such intermittent rotation to the feed wheel, means co-acting with the slide for setting the rocker, escapement mechanism for releasing the rocker and permitting same to be actuated by its load, coin-operated means for con- 20 trolling the operation of said escapement for detaching a portion of said perforated strip, means, releasable by said detaching means for locking the slide in its upper osinon, means for resetting; the detac mg 5 means aforesaid, m ans for preventing retrolgrade movement of the sprocket wheel, 1

means for locking the operating slide when {the stamps or tickets are exhausted, and 5 means for visibly indicating such exhausted condition substantially as described.

i In witness whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two wit- IIGSSQS.

ROBERT JAMES DICKIE. JOHN HENRY BROWN. 

